How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
The Lord Needs You
It is true that the Lord can do whatever He desires without us. However, His divine plan is to do much of His great work through His disciples. Every person who comes to Jesus, comes through the efforts of other Christians whom God uses directly or indirectly. Serving the King of kings is not only our responsibility, it is a great privilege. We are His hands and feet. The following testimony speaks of the great love and mercy of God that we share with residents.
“I enter my friend’s room. It is dark; the air is heavy and stagnant. Lenny is lying motionless in bed. He can’t see anymore. His eyes are deeply sunken in his thin face. I speak some gentle words to see if he is awake. I can see that he is quickly fading.
Above his head on the bulletin board I notice a business card from a local hospice chaplain. I know that Lenny’s time is at hand.
I begin to share with my friend. And after a few encouraging words I say with deep compassion, “Lenny, I think Jesus is going to take you home soon. He loves you, and all the crazy things that have been happening are going to make sense…All your mistakes will be forgotten…All your pain and sadness will be changed into blessings.”
Lenny’s life has been filled with terrible things – both wrongs committed against him, and wrongs committed by him. He knows the deep shame of sin and failure. Even his tattoos bear witness to the debauchery of his troubled past.
But, since he came to the nursing home, Lenny has often attended our weekly Bible studies. Jesus has captivated his heart during these fellowship times. Grace has been poured out upon Lenny and he has received it so gratefully.
Lenny has difficulty speaking, but when we take song requests from the residents, he always asks for the same song. So, as I stand by his bed, I begin to speak the words to Lenny’s song:
“What can take away my sin?”
Lenny murmurs along with me, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
I continue, “What can make me whole again?”
Lenny joins me, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
“Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know,“
And with an ear-to-ear grin, Lenny says, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
We praise God together. And I pray with him. As I turn to leave the room I say, “I’ll see you in heaven pretty soon, Lenny.”
He beams, mumbles some words that I cannot understand, but I think he means, “Amen!”
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
~Matthew 28:19-20
